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Clayton Valley Charter quarterback Logan Sumter (14) celebrates with Cade Carter (3) after Carter scored a touchdown against Pittsburg in an August game. The two teams could both be selected to play in the North Coast Section Open Division playoffs. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

Pittsburg High's Avant Muldrow (20) runs the ball in for a touchdown in the second quarter of their football game against Clayton Valley Charter in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

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Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group

Clayton Valley Charter quarterback Logan Sumter (14) throws a touchdown pass in the second quarter of their football game against Pittsburg High in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

Clayton Valley Charter's Cade Carter (3), seen here scoring a touchdown earlier this season against Pittsburg, had a key interception and a long touchdown catch against Campolindo on Friday. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

Pittsburg High's Willie Harts III (3) runs a kickoff return in for a touchdown in the first quarter of their football game against Clayton Valley Charter in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

Pittsburg High's Avant Muldrow (20) celebrates with teammate Willie Harts III (3) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of their football game against Clayton Valley Charter in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

(Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

A pass intended for Pittsburg High's Elijah Roberts (12) is intercepted by Clayton Valley Charter's Seth Gwynn (37) while next to teammate Avant Muldrow (20) in the second quarter of their football game in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

Clayton Valley Charter's Christian Seeley (20) runs a punt return in for a touchdown in the first quarter of their football game against Pittsburg High in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

Clayton Valley Charter football was moved to the East Bay Athletic League on Thursday, but decision could be appealed (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group file)

Clayton Valley Charter's Makhi Gervais (21) runs 80-yards for a touchdown in the first quarter of their football game against Pittsburg High in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

Clayton Valley Charter, seen here playing Pittsburg last fall, could be joining the Pirates in the BVAL as soon as next season. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group file)

Pittsburg High's Avant Muldrow (20) tries to get past Clayton Valley Charter's Christian Seeley (20) in the first quarter of their football game in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

Pittsburg High School quarterback Trey Turner (6) throws a touchdown pass in the second quarter of their game against Clayton Valley Charter in Pittsburg on Aug. 17. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

Clayton Valley Charter's Jason Cannedy (52) tries to block Pittsburg High's Jacob Bandes (55) in the second quarter of their football game in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

Pittsburg High's Jack Lacy III (8), Elijah Roberts (12), Jacob Bandes (55) and Gabriel Iniguez (57) lead the way as the Pirates take to the field for their game against Clayton Valley Charter in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

The Pittsburg High marching band stand at attention before the start of the Pirates football game against Clayton Valley Charter in Pittsburg, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

PITTSBURG — You almost wanted to feel sorry for Clayton Valley Charter coach Tim Murphy after listening to him before Friday night’s season-opener against Pittsburg. It was like the Ugly Eagles had no chance.

Then again, after Clayton Valley pulled off a 38-31 victory over the Pirates in double overtime, you had to wonder if Murphy was pulling a few legs before the game, or if the Ugly Eagles’ season-opening will go down as one of the year’s biggest upsets.

“We lost six kids in the spring and we lost four more tonight,” Murphy said while his players celebrated their improbable win. “These guys stepped up like I’ve never seen.”

For Pittsburg, the defeat was eerily similar to the loss to Narbonne in the CIF state championship game last December. In that game, the Pirates led 21-0 in the first half and lost 28-21.

Against Clayton Valley, Pittsburg was ahead 10-0 with 8:57 left in the first quarter. Willie Harts took the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, then Lorenzo Anaya booted a 47-yard field goal with plenty to spare, making it 10-zip Pittsburg.

But Clayton Valley unleashed big play after big play. It took a 21-16 lead early in the second quarter, trailed by three at intermission and tied the game at 24-24 when Camden Grant nailed a 23-yard field goal in the final minute of regulation.

In the overtime, Clayton Valley scored on a 9-yard pass from Logan Sumter to Air Force-bound Cade Carter, then Carson Sumter scored from 3 yards out to give the Ugly Eagles a 38-31 advantage with Pittsburg still having one possession left. A pass by quarterback Trey Turner fell incomplete, and the Ugly Eagles began celebrating wildly.

With Clayton Valley playing Stellar Prep and Concord the next two weeks, it should have time for some of its wounds to heal before a Sept. 7 showdown against Antioch.

“I don’t think there were any breaks (broken bones) or injuries that will require surgery,” Murphy said.

The problems began before the season. Last year’s leading rusher, Thomas Alatini, was suspended and two key players transferred out. On Friday night, the Uglies lost standout linebacker Dusty Mitchell early in the game. Running back Makhi Gervais, who ran for 87 yards in the first half, was lost to an injury in the third quarter.

In the process, three potential stars were uncovered. Carter caught a 75-yard touchdown pass, had an interception and returned a fumble recovery 35 yards to set up the game-tying field goal.

Logan Sumter completed four of six passes for 82 yards and two scores, including a 9-yard gem to Carter in the first overtime. Sumter called that play.

“This will help us get going,” a jubilant Sumter said. “We came ready to play.”

The other star was Carson Sumter, who took over at running back after Gervais was injured. He rushed for 42 yards and kept the chains moving for the Eagles. Gervais rushed 17 times for 100 yards.
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Pittsburg, on the other hand, turned the ball over three times. Late in the fourth quarter, the penalty count stood at 11 for 82 yards for Pitt, and one penalty for five yards for Clayton Valley.

Clayton Valley finished the game with a two-yard edge in total yards (243-241). Pittsburg’s passing game looked rusty as quarterback Trey Turner, who missed last season with an injury, completed 16 of 25 passes, but for only 59 yards.